Altar
The Eucharist is celebrated at the altar, shown here freestanding and as the assembly's focus. Items placed on it depend on the part of Mass being celebrated.
Key points
- The altar signifies Christ and the Eucharistic sacrifice and banquet.
- Look for: A white altar cloth, with candles on or around the altar; vessels are placed as needed for Mass.
- An illustrative Roman Catholic parish in the Latin rite, assembled for study rather than surveyed from a single building. Plans, devotional furnishings, music, and the locations of the font and tabernacle vary; Eastern Catholic churches have other traditions. Sizes, materials, and spacing are illustrative, and displayed vessels represent different moments of worship.
- Readings, thanksgiving, and care for neighbors (Historical connection): Justin describes Sunday readings from the apostles and prophets, an exhortation, common prayer, bread and wine with water, thanksgiving, Communion, and a collection for people in need. His account helps explain why proclamation, a table, the gathered assembly, and service to absent members belong together.
- Justin describes an order of worship, not the dimensions or furniture of a church. His account does not establish that a modern pulpit, high iconostasis, or complete later Byzantine rite was already present.
- Facing east and standing in Resurrection hope (Historical connection): Basil gives eastward prayer as an example of received, unwritten church practice. He relates the east to Eden in Genesis 2:8 and standing on the first day of the week to rising with Christ and seeking the things above in Colossians 3:1.
- Basil's interpretation is an important witness received especially in Eastern Christian worship, not proof that all churches in all places had an east-end altar. Liturgical east and geographic east need not coincide. Christian interpretations of unwritten tradition differ.
Scripture
- Luke 22:14–20 — Readings, thanksgiving, and care for neighbors: Justin describes Sunday readings from the apostles and prophets, an exhortation, common prayer, bread and wine with water, thanksgiving, Communion, and a collection for people in need. His account helps explain why proclamation, a table, the gathered assembly, and service to absent members belong together.
- 1 Corinthians 11:23–29 — Readings, thanksgiving, and care for neighbors: Justin describes Sunday readings from the apostles and prophets, an exhortation, common prayer, bread and wine with water, thanksgiving, Communion, and a collection for people in need. His account helps explain why proclamation, a table, the gathered assembly, and service to absent members belong together.
- Genesis 2:8 — Facing east and standing in Resurrection hope: Basil gives eastward prayer as an example of received, unwritten church practice. He relates the east to Eden in Genesis 2:8 and standing on the first day of the week to rising with Christ and seeking the things above in Colossians 3:1.
- Colossians 3:1-4 — Facing east and standing in Resurrection hope: Basil gives eastward prayer as an example of received, unwritten church practice. He relates the east to Eden in Genesis 2:8 and standing on the first day of the week to rising with Christ and seeking the things above in Colossians 3:1.
Sources and further reading
- 1 Corinthians 11:23–29 — World English Bible
- Colossians 3:1-4 - World English Bible
- Genesis 2:8 - World English Bible
- Luke 22:14–20 — World English Bible
- Basil of Caesarea - On the Holy Spirit 27.66
- Justin Martyr — First Apology, chapters 65–67
- USCCB — GIRM: Arrangement of Churches (nos. 288–318)
- USCCB — GIRM: Preparation for Mass (nos. 117–119)
- USCCB — GIRM: The Structure and Parts of the Mass
- USCCB — The Priest at Mass